Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Living Wage

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the number of Living Wage employers.

Lord Callanan: The Government considers the expert and independent advice of the Low Pay Commission (LPC) when setting the statutory minimum wage rates. The LPC has gained international respect for their high-quality work. The key distinction between the statutory minimum rates and rates such as the Living Wage Foundation’s Voluntary Living Wage, is that LPC calculations consider the impact on businesses and the economy. We commend employers who pay above the National Minimum Wage/National Living Wage when they can afford to do so.

Insolvency: Assets

Lord Kamall: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that any owners of a business that is to be dissolved are aware that if they do not withdraw any money from the bank accounts of that business before dissolving the company, the amount in the account will be considered Bona Vacantia and pass to the Crown.

Lord Callanan: Companies House content on the GOV.UK website provides companies with guidance on all aspects of the dissolution process.

Energy Bills Rebate: District Heating

Baroness Hayman: To ask His Majesty's Government (1) when, and (2) how, heat network customers will receive payments from theEnergy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Fund.

Lord Callanan: Eligibility, timescales and method of delivery for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding will be announced in the coming weeks.

Cabinet Office

Civil Service: Recruitment

Lord Leong: To ask His Majesty's Government howmany people they have employed as part of the Civil Service Fast Stream in the last three years; and of those, how many have since left the Civil Service; and of those, how many cited low pay as a reason for leaving.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: 1,909 individuals have joined the centrally managed Civil Service Fast Stream schemes in the last three years - further data on Fast Stream recruitment up to 2021 is already published externally at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-fast-stream-recruitment-data-2019-2020-and-202185 of these individuals have left the Civil Service. None of those who provided a reason for leaving through an exit survey stated this was due to pay and reward considerations though this does not necessarily mean it was not a consideration for them. Fast Stream Recruitment Data  (pdf, 297.5KB)

Attorney General

Religious Freedom

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of written statements made in a case by the Crown Prosecution Service that the Bible contains references "which are simply no longer appropriate in modern society and which would be deemed offensive if stated in public".

Lord Stewart of Dirleton: The Wessex Area of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has undertaken a post-case review and acknowledges that the statement was inappropriate. The statement was not intended to and does not represent a change to published CPS Policy. It is not indicative of a general approach by the CPS to cases involving the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and the right to freedom of expression. As a result of the post-case review, in future, where skeleton arguments are ordered, in cases where there is scope for argument to arise as to rights such as that of freedom of expression, such arguments will be submitted to the Senior District Crown Prosecutor for signing off, prior to service.

Department for Education

Schools: Admissions

Lord Storey: To ask His Majesty's Government how many non-grammar schools select pupils by a written test.

Lord Storey: To ask His Majesty's Government how the 11-plus tests at grammar schools are moderated; and whether this moderation is carried out independently.

Baroness Barran: The department does not collect data on which schools, permitted by law, select pupils by aptitude or ability via a written test.Selection tests can lawfully form part of any selective school’s admission arrangements. The School Admissions Code requires tests to ‘be clear, objective, and [to] give an accurate reflection of the child’s ability or aptitude, irrespective of sex, race, or disability’, but it does not require them to be independently moderated. The School Admissions Code can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code--2.In many cases, tests will be purchased from commercial providers and will be marked by them, although that is not a legal requirement.

Schools: Attendance

Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage children back into classroom education following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baroness Barran: Education is a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.Being in school is crucial to pupils’ attainment, wellbeing, and wider life chances. The department is focusing on supporting the recovery of children and young people from the disruption of COVID-19 through an ambitious multi-year programme and has made available almost £5 billion for education recovery. This investment includes up to £1.5 billion for tutoring, nearly £2 billion of direct funding to schools so they can deliver evidence-based interventions based on pupil needs, £400 million on teacher training opportunities, and over £800 million for additional hours in 16-19 education.In addition, the department has brought together an Attendance Action Alliance of lead professionals from key frontline services that support families. Members from education, health, justice, the third sector, and parent organisations have collectively committed to use their roles and organisations to undertake activities to improve attendance.The department has also published new ‘Working together to improve school attendance’ guidance, which makes clear the importance of addressing the barriers to attendance through strong multi-agency working at school, multi-academy trust and local authority level. This guidance intends to ensure greater consistency in the attendance support offered to pupils and families, regardless of where they live, and emphasises the importance of providing attendance support in an earlier and more targeted way to respond to pupils’ individual needs.To support this, the department has established an automated, more timely flow of attendance data from participating schools’ management information systems. Over 75% of state-funded schools have agreed to voluntarily share this data, which allows participating schools, their trust, and their local authority to see daily attendance for their pupils in order to identify those who need support earlier. This data is also being published fortnightly at a local authority, regional and national level to enable comparisons and early identification and response to emerging attendance trends.

Schools: Swimming Pools

Lord Storey: To ask His Majesty's Government how many schools in England do not have access to a swimming pool for their swimming lessons.

Lord Storey: To ask His Majesty's Government how many children in England leave school not being able to swim.

Baroness Barran: The department does not collect data on schools’ access to swimming pools or on pupils’ swimming ability on leaving school.All schools in receipt of the primary PE and sport premium are required to publish the percentage of their pupils in year 6 who meet each of the three swimming and water safety national curriculum expectations. This includes the ability to swim 25 metres unaided. Schools will publish this data by 31 July 2023.Sport England collects data from schools in England for its Active Lives Children and Young People’s Survey. Data from the 2020/21 academic year shows 76% of year 7 children can swim 25 metres unaided.

Further Education: Finance

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment theyhave made of the impact that real-terms cuts to funding for further education are having on colleges.

Baroness Barran: The 2021 Spending Review announced an extra £1.6 billion in funding for 16-19 education and training in 2024/25, compared to 2021/22. This includes an up-front cash boost which has seen the overall average rate of funding per student increased by 9.5% in allocations for the 2022/23 academic year.The department is also investing £2.8 billion of capital funding for skills over the Spending Review period, including to improve the condition of further education estates, create more post-16 places and support the rollout of T-Levels.The department assesses and reviews colleges’ financial health on a regular basis and uses this information to determine where support and intervention from the department, Education and Skills Funding Agency and further education commissioner can help colleges to improve their position. More information on this is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/college-oversight-support-and-intervention.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

Parliamentary Estate: Telephone Systems

Lord Mawson: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whatassessment he has made of the installation of the telephone system on the parliamentary estate; and what procurement lessons have been learned for the Restoration and Renewal Programme with regard to (1) cost, (2) ratio of possible to actual users, (3) consultation and involvement of users, (4) unnecessary capabilities and specifications, and (5) efficiency for its primary purpose.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: There have been several recent incidents with desk-based handsets. These incidents have had protracted resolution times and the Parliamentary Digital Service (PDS) is dependent on third parties, including Microsoft, to identify and fix the root cause.  The need to improve voice services has been identified and PDS is working closely with relevant service providers to resolve these issues. In improving telephony services as part of the ‘Voice Programme’, members will be engaged through user groups to ensure needs and requirements are met.  PDS has a robust lessons learned process that is well-embedded and the Voice Programme is procuring a new telephony solution to support communication services in Parliament using a Crown Commercial Services framework with a focus on increasing quality, efficiency and value.  This work will not be left to the Restoration and Renewal Programme – both because the timescales for implementation would be too long, and because the implementation of telephony is not completely tied to the fabric of the building.  The two Houses agreed a new approach to the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster, as agreed in the resolution passed by the House on 13 July [HL deb. Col. 1497]. All proposals for the restoration works will require parliamentary approval, as set out in section 7 of the Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Act 2019.

Department for International Trade

Trade Promotion: Northern Ireland

Lord Rogan: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17 November (HC Deb col 853),whether they will set out the details of the upcoming trade and investment event in Northern Ireland which was announcedin theAutumn Statement.

Lord Johnson of Lainston: The UK Government will deliver a trade and investment event to attract international investment and showcase Northern Ireland as a great place to live, work, and do business. The Northern Ireland Office and the Department for International Trade will work together with Northern Ireland partners to maximise the benefit to people and businesses in Northern Ireland. The event will demonstrate the UK Government’s commitment to building on the progress of the Good Friday Agreement and supporting Northern Ireland to achieve its economic potential.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Pakistan: Demolition

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent reports of the demolition of homes inNawaz Sharif Colony, Islamabad, Pakistan, without warning to residents and leaving 200 families homeless; and whether they have raised this with the government of that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Pakistan is one of the FCDO's human rights priority countries and protecting freedom of religion or belief is an integral part of our engagement on human rights in Pakistan. We are aware that the area of homes destroyed was a predominantly Christian community. We continue to urge Pakistan to guarantee the fundamental rights of all citizens in Pakistan, including religious minorities.

China: Development Aid

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government why they gave China £51.7 million in Official Development Assistance in the last year; and what assessment they have made of the continuing need to give China such assistance given that China has the second largest economy in the world.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government who decided to give £51.7 million of Official Development Assistance to China last year; how this aligns with their commitment in April 2021 to reduce such funding by 95 per cent; and when this reduction will be implemented.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what projects in China were funded with the £51.7 million in Official Development Assistance they provided to that country last year; and who were the beneficiaries of those projects.

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government whetherany of the £51.7 million in Official Development Assistance that they provided to China last year was used (1) to provide assistance to, or (2) to benefit, the Uyghur communities in that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government stopped direct government-to-government bilateral aid to the Chinese Government in 2011. The FCDO cut aid programming in China by 95 per cent from the 2021-22 financial year. All new FCDO ODA programming in 2021 was limited to supporting projects that furthered our open societies and human rights objectives in China, such as funding important research on the human rights violations occurring in Xinjiang. There was additional programme spend in 2021-22 to meet the exit costs of former programmes. In addition to programme spend, FCDO Official Development Assistance (ODA) to China in 2021 includes other types of spend that is counted as ODA, such as ODA eligible operational costs for UK diplomatic missions in China, Chevening scholarships, ODA-eligible British Council activity and funding for the Great Britain China Centre. It is not direct assistance to the Chinese government but is categorised as ODA in line with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Development Assistance Committee rules on ODA reporting. Total HMG ODA to China in 2021 also included spend by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy [£18.8 million], the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs [£30,000] and, in the first quarter of the year only, the Prosperity Fund [£2.8 million]. Details on all UK ODA projects for 2021, including those to China, can be found in the Statistics on International Development publication in 'Data Underlying the SID': https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1119764/data-underlying-SID-2021.ods

Palestinians: Elections

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability for Palestinian adults in (1) the West Bank, (2) East Jerusalem, and (3) Gaza, to express their political wishes through verified elections; and what steps they will take to ensure that Palestinian adults have these rights.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Palestinian people should be allowed to enjoy their democratic rights. We regularly remind the Palestinian leadership of the need for democratic renewal through free and fair national elections held across the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, as set out in the Oslo Accords.

Palestinians: Human Rights and Protest

Lord Pickles: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent any breaches of human rights by the Palestinian Authority; and what further steps they are taking to support the right of freedom to protest in the areas administered by that Authority.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Human Rights is a crucial element underpinning the UK's foreign policy. We continue to urge the Palestinian Authority (PA) to respect human rights, Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem regularly raise the need for key legislative and security sector reform to ensure respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. We encourage the PA to ensure the harmonisation of Palestinian laws with International Human Rights conventions to which it has acceded. As we mark the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, we are again urging the PA at the highest levels to adopt legislation to ensure the protection and progression of women's rights.

Syria and Turkey: Bombings

Baroness Cox: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) airstrikes carried out by Turkey in Northern Syria, (2) the impact the airstrikes have had on civilians, (3) the best way to restore peace in that region, and (4) how to ensure Syrian sovereignty is observed.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK recognises Turkey's legitimate security interests in Syria and Iraq and is closely monitoring the situation. It is important that the risks to civilians and to the security and stability of the region are minimised. FCDO Ministers and senior officials engage with Turkey regularly on issues of regional security. The Foreign Secretary last met Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu on 30 November.

Tigray: Sexual Offences

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they made to the representatives of the government of Ethiopia during the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict InitiativeConference; and whatsteps they are taking to ensure the protection of Tigrayan people subjected to conflict-related sexual violence.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is committed to preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence. As Ethiopia is a Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative (PSVI) Focus Country, we highlighted the effects of conflict in Ethiopia as part of the programme at the PSVI Conference from 28-29 November. This was through a session focused on ethical documentation of conflict-related sexual violence by the media and an artwork exhibition organised by Amnesty International. We invited a range of representatives, including from civil society and the Ethiopian Government, to discuss the impacts of the conflict in Ethiopia. We have consistently called for an end to the appalling violations and abuses of human rights, including sexual violence, committed by all parties to the conflict in northern Ethiopia, and for the perpetrators of these acts to be held to account and support for victims.

Ministry of Defence

Typhoon Aircraft: Radar

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the projected cost of thenew Typhoon radar; and when it will enter frontline service.

Baroness Goldie: In July 2022, the Ministry of Defence announced a further £2.35 billion investment in Typhoon, including fitting an electronically scanned radar, the European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2, as well as other improvements under the Phase 4 Enhancement aircraft upgrade package.The ECRS Mk2 radar is currently forecast to achieve an initial operating capability on the Typhoon aircraft fleet by the end of the decade, although opportunities to accelerate the programme are being explored.

F-35 Aircraft

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the embarked trials forF35B shipborne rolling vertical landing(SRVL) have been successfully achieved; and if not, when they will be completed.

Baroness Goldie: The Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing trials have not yet been completed. Planning is underway to identify a suitable period for the trials to be undertaken but a date has not yet been confirmed.

F-35 Aircraft

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government whether the primary reason for the purchase of F35B fighter aircraft is to provide an air wing for the new aircraft carriers

Baroness Goldie: I refer the Noble Lord to the response I gave to him on 8 September 2022 (House of Lords Debate, column 269).Royal Navy: F35B (docx, 24.2KB)

Future Combat Air System

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the planned cost of the Tempest Programme; and how many platforms it is based around.

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government when Tempest (Future Combat Air System-FCAS) is due to enter service.

Baroness Goldie: The 2021 Defence Command Paper said that we will invest more than £2 billion out to 2025. This is part of a UK budget of over £10 billion over the next ten years, although the ultimate amount we invest will depend on key programme choices.We are now in the Concept and Assessment Phase (2021-25), during which key work is being undertaken to define and begin design of the capability we require. The design of the aircraft will be a key factor in determining the number we seek to acquire and this should be clearer by the end of the Concept and Assessment Phase.

F-35 Aircraft: Early Warning Systems

Lord West of Spithead: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they still intend thatcarrier strike will achieve full operating capability by December 2023; and whether this means one carrier fully operational with 24 F35s embarked and a functioning Crowsnest AEW system.

Baroness Goldie: At present the definition and timing of Full Operational Capability of Carrier Strike remains unchanged and on current plans will be declared December 2023.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Deductions

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Stedman-Scott on 27 October (HL2434),on what basis a 70 per cent completion rate has been determined as a necessary criterion for publication of data; and whether they will deposita copy of the guidance or document specifying a requirement for a 70 per cent completion rate threshold to be met before data are published in the Library of the House.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: Details of the plan for the publication of ethnicity data for Universal Credit claimants can be found under the heading of ‘Ethnicity for Universal Credit claimants’ in the background information section of the ‘Universal Credit Statistics Background Information & Methodology’ document on the GOV.UK website which can be accessed in the Library of the House. For reporting on and interpreting non-mandatory self-declared diversity fields, the minimum threshold set by the Department for Work and Pensions is a completion rate of 70%. The level of non-completion represents both the level of uncertainty around the figures and also means the likelihood of responder bias is more prominent. The effect of responder bias could be quite substantial, yet unquantifiable. Therefore, any attempt to infer meaning from these figures until they reach a minimum level of completion would likely be misleading. The minimum level of 70% has been determined by analysis of the completion rates for those on Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Ethnicity breakdowns have been published for JSA since August 2007, with a completion rate at the time of 90%, and for ESA since November 2008, with a completion rate of 74%. Due to this the threshold of 70% was chosen as the minimum level required before publication can be considered. Once the minimum threshold is achieved analysis will be performed to check the data is of sufficient quality to publish. Meanwhile, work is on-going to improve the completion rate. The approach to capturing ethnicity information is being addressed to ensure that claimants are supported in providing the information. Claimants can be reassured that ethnicity information is used solely for statistical purposes in an aggregate fashion, non-attributable to individuals

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Wildlife: Crime

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Benyon on 23 November (HL3268), when they expect the relevant agencies to consider the recommendations of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on developing sentencing guidelines for wildlife crime.

Lord Benyon: We welcome this report and the fact that it recognises the UK's global leadership in fighting wildlife and forestry crime. We invited the UN to undertake this analysis and we are proud to be the first G7 country to request this assessment.We will carefully consider all the recommendations to help us build on the positive progress we have already made in tackling wildlife crime. This will include strategic engagement with our partners that have responsibilities where individual recommendations are concerned such as the devolved administrations, the Crown Prosecution Service, National Wildlife Crime Unit and the Sentencing Council (who has responsibility for developing sentencing guidelines and monitoring their use).

Nappies

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish a new life cycle assessment for disposable and reusable nappies to replace the assessment from 2008.

Lord Benyon: Work on the environmental assessment of disposable and reusable nappies is nearly complete and peer review of the work is being finalised. No date has been set for publication.

Eggs

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking toensure the availability of British eggs up to and including Christmas 2022.

Lord Benyon: We are not expecting any significant impact to the overall supply of eggs, and the UK has a highly resilient food supply chain. However, farmers are facing extra pressures this year as a result of global rising input costs for feed and energy combined with the bird flu outbreak, which is why we continue to work closely with industry to monitor the market and help them with costs.We have set out a package of measures to support the poultry sector during this time and we will continue to monitor the situation. We are working closely with all stakeholders on how they can maintain the supply of British eggs in supermarkets. The Minister for Food and Farming recently hosted an egg industry roundtable with representatives from across the UK egg supply chain, to consider the challenges currently facing the industry.

Bread and Flour: Regulation

Lord Rooker: To ask His Majesty's Government how many contributions to the consultation in respect of Amending the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 which closed on 23 November were received from each of the target audiences listed in the consultation.

Lord Benyon: The UK Government and devolved administrations ran a public consultation on proposals to amend the Bread and Flour Regulations 1998 and the Bread and Flour Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 from the 1st September – 23rd November 2022. Early analysis suggests Defra received around 369 responses although this is subject to verification checks. Respondents were asked which category of field or role best described the sector they belong to. The initial analysis of this is as follows: approximately 18% identified as belonging to one of the food industry categories (flour miller, premix supplier, retailer, food manufacturer), 1% enforcement authorities, 11% health care professionals, 56% consumers, 11% answered other, and 2% did not answer this question. It should be noted that several of these responses were received from representative trade associations. Detailed analysis and verification of responses is currently underway which may change the numbers above. A summary of responses received, including final figures on respondents and their field/role will be published alongside the government response in due course.

Home Office

Police: Surveillance

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that the list of 1,192 affiliated and organisational groups mentioned in Special Demonstration Squad documentation, which was collated by the Metropolitan Police Service Inquiry and Review Support Command and sent to the Undercover Policing Inquiry on 10 August 2017, is released by November 2023.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom: The Inquiry is independent of the Home Office, and its independence is crucial to its effectiveness. It would not, therefore, be appropriate for the Government to comment on or intervene in the Inquiry’s decision-making.The Inquiry is responsible for deciding how best to structure its investigations to deliver its terms of reference and disclosure is a matter for the Inquiry. It is also a matter for the Metropolitan Police Service to make decisions independently of the Home Office on the management and disclosure of its records.More information on the Inquiry’s evidence and disclosure process can be found on the Inquiry’s website.

Asylum: Rwanda

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the UN High Commissioner for RefugeesAnalysis of the Legality and Appropriateness of the Transfer of Asylum Seekers under the UK–Rwanda arrangement, published on 8 June; and what steps they are taking to respond to concerns raised in that report.

Lord Murray of Blidworth: We are confident our arrangement with Rwanda is fully compatible with our international obligations and guarantees the safety of those relocated.Safeguards and assurances were considered throughout the development of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership between the UK and Rwanda, and the commitments made by both Participants have been recorded in the published Memorandum of Understanding. A Joint Committee has been established under the MEDP to oversee the operation of Partnership and has already met. It will be informed by an independent Monitoring Committee that has been appointed to monitor the implementation of the safeguards and assurances.The Home Office Country Policy and Information Team also carried out an assessment of the asylum system and human rights position in Rwanda. More information on its findings can be found at Gov.UK.

Northern Ireland Office

Politics and Government: Northern Ireland

Lord Lexden: To ask His Majesty's Government what have been their principal economic and political achievements in Northern Ireland since May 2010.

Lord Caine: Since May 2010, His Majesty’s Government has delivered significant political and economic achievements in Northern Ireland. His Majesty’s Government is proud of its political achievements in Northern Ireland, including the Stormont House Agreement, The Fresh Start Agreement and the New Decade, New Approach Agreement, which most recently restored the Northern Ireland Executive in 2020 after the three-year political impasse. In recent months, His Majesty’s Government has taken steps through the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation, Etc.) Bill in an attempt to restore political stability once more and protect the delivery of vital public services. His Majesty’s Government has invested £150m in Northern Ireland as a result of the Stormont House Agreement in 2014, and a further £500m through the Fresh Start Agreement in 2015. In recent years, His Majesty’s Government has invested over £3.5bn in Northern Ireland through the New Deal for Northern Ireland (£400m), City and Growth Deals (£617m), PEACE PLUS (£730m) and the New Decade, New Approach financial package (£2bn) which provided for the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive in January 2020. His Majesty’s Government is also investing over £170m in Northern Ireland through the Levelling Up Fund, UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and Community Ownership Fund. The unemployment rate in Northern Ireland has decreased from 6.9% in 2010 to 3% at present whilst the employment rate in Northern Ireland has increased from 66.2% in 2010 to 70.1% today. This amounts to 68,000 more working-age adults that are employed in Northern Ireland, boosting Northern Ireland’s economic vibrancy. Identifiable public spending per head in Northern Ireland stands at 21% higher than the UK average. As we approach the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, His Majesty’s Government is focused on the long-term political and economic prosperity of Northern Ireland as set out under that Agreement.

Planning Permission: Northern Ireland

Lord Alderdice: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to address the Northern Ireland Audit Office's comments in February that "Northern Ireland's planning system is not working efficiently and, in many aspects, is failing to deliver for the economy, communities or the environment"; and what impact this is having on the Levelling Up agenda.

Lord Caine: As the Noble Lord is aware, planning policy is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland and the Department for Infrastructure has responsibility for regional planning policy and legislation. We note the concerns raised about the performance of the planning system in Northern Ireland in the Northern Ireland Audit Office report. The concerns raised in the report highlight the need for functioning devolved institutions as envisaged and enabled by the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, delivering on key issues like ensuring Northern Ireland has an effective planning system that meets the needs of businesses and the public. The UK Government is committed to growing and levelling up the Northern Ireland economy, which is why more than £3.5bn has been provided in recent years, in addition to the Northern Ireland Executive’s block grant, through the New Deal for Northern Ireland, City and Growth Deals, PEACE PLUS and the New Decade, New Approach financial package. Furthermore, following the 2021 Spending Review the Government is providing the largest funding settlement to the Northern Ireland Executive since devolution in 1998, totalling £15 billion on average per year, for the next 3 years. This means that public spending is able to be maintained at some 21% higher per capita than the UK average.

Planning Appeals Commission Northern Ireland

Lord Alderdice: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Northern Ireland Planning Appeals Commission Annual Review 2021/22, published on 26 August, and the impact its findings are having on the Levelling Up agenda.

Lord Caine: Planning policy is a transferred matter in Northern Ireland and the Department for Infrastructure has responsibility for regional planning policy and legislation. We note the findings in the Northern Ireland Planning Appeals Commission Annual Review 2021/22. This highlights the need for functioning devolved institutions as envisaged and enabled by the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, with local decision-makers taking the action needed to ensure Northern Ireland has a planning appeals process that meets the needs of businesses and the public. The UK Government is committed to growing and levelling up the Northern Ireland economy, which is why more than £3.5bn has been provided in recent years, in addition to the Northern Ireland Executive’s block grant, through the New Deal for Northern Ireland, City and Growth Deals, PEACE PLUS and the New Decade, New Approach financial package. Furthermore, following the 2021 Spending Review the Government is providing the largest funding settlement to the Northern Ireland Executive since devolution in 1998, totalling £15 billion on average per year, for the next 3 years.

Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill

Baroness O'Loan: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply byLord Caine on 23 November (HL Deb col 1465), whether they will reconsider current proposals for the timing of the committee stage of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill; and whether they will pause that stage.

Lord Caine: The Committee Stage for the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill is no longer scheduled for 12 and 14 December. It will be rescheduled in due course.

Treasury

Private Rented Housing: Taxation

Lord Truscott: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of theeffect of recent tax changes on the supply of homes in the private rented sector.

Baroness Penn: The Government is committed to supporting the rental market. On 23 September, the Government announced an increase in the nil-rate threshold of Stamp Duty Land Tax from £125,000 to £250,000 for all purchases of residential property. At Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced that this measure will end on 31 March 2025 as part of the Government’s commitment to fiscal responsibility. It will remain in place until then to boost transactions by reducing the upfront costs of purchasing homes, including in the private rented sector, and support the hundreds of thousands of jobs and businesses reliant on the property industry. The Government keeps all tax policy under review.

Standard of Living

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government, given the projection by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that the UK will be the second weakest performer of the world's big economies in 2023, what assessment they have made of the impact of this economic downturn on standards of living for people in the UK.

Baroness Penn: HM Treasury does not prepare formal forecasts for household income or the outlook for the UK economy, which are the responsibility of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). In their November 2022 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the OBR expects living standards – as measured by real household disposable income (RHDI) per capita – to fall by 4.3% in 2022/23 and 2.8% in 2023/24, and to start recovering from Q4 2023. The government has announced further support for next year designed to target the most vulnerable households alongside capping energy bills for all households through the Energy Price Guarantee. This cost of living support is worth £26 billion in 2023-24, in addition to benefits uprating, which is worth £11 billion to working age households and people with disabilities. This support for 2023-24 is in addition to the generous support already in place to support households this winter. In addition to the Energy Price Guarantee, the government announced £37 billion of support for the cost of living in 2022-23. The OBR estimated that government support helps offsets half of the fall in RHDI per person that would have otherwise occurred in 2022/23, and around a quarter of the cumulative fall between 2021/22 and 2023/24.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Wembley Stadium: Anti-social Behaviour

Lord Birt: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byLord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 7 November(HL2798) and 24 November (HL3333), whether they have (1) monitored the implementation of all of the recommendations of the report byBaroness Casey of Blackstock into the disorder at Wembley Stadium in the UEFA Euro 2020 Final, or (2) received updates from (a) the Football Association and its key partners, or (b) the Sports Ground Safety Authority, on the implementation of those recommendations; and if so, what progress has been made in respect of each recommendation, and when they expect all the recommendations to have been implemented.

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay: DCMS has continued to work closely with key parties, including the Home Office, the UK Football Policing Unit, the Football Association, and the Sports Ground Safety Authority, to ensure that the recommendations from Baroness Casey of Blackstock’s report were carefully considered and, where necessary, acted upon.Our approach with respect to these recommendations is outlined in our evidence to the DCMS Select Committee of the House of Commons’s Inquiry into Safety at Major Sporting Events, a copy of which I have placed in the Library.In the case of Wembley Stadium, significant work has been undertaken by the Football Association and its key partners following Baroness Casey’s report, as successfully demonstrated during the UEFA Women’s Euros and other high-profile events.The safety of spectators at sporting events is of the highest importance to His Majesty’s Government.